Intestinal absorption and metabolism of 2:2-dimethylstearic acid in the rat

Abstract

[carboxy-C14] 2:2-Dimethylstearic acid and 2:2-dimethyladipic acid were synthesized. The former acid was well absorbed when dissolved in olive oil and administered to rats. The absorbed acid was transported via the lymphatics incorporated into glycerides and phospholipids. No isotope was found in the expired CO2, but more than 90% of the absorbed isotope was recovered in the urine as [C14] dimethyl-adipic acid. Dimethylstearic acid did not take part in the formation of ester bonds occurring during hydrolysis of olive oil with pancreatic lipase. When the lymph glyceride containing this acid was treated with bile[long dash]pancreatic juice, this ester bond appeared virtually resistant to the action of lipase. Other types of enzymes which apparently are not hindered by the 2 alpha-methyl groups affect the synthesis of glyceride ester bonds in the intestinal cells and the splitting of these bonds in the tissues of the rat.